NFL serves up barn burners

By Jim Kavanagh, CNN

Updated 8:49 PM ET, Sun January 13, 2013

Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs77 photos

Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Rob Ninkovich of the New England Patriots, No. 50, celebrates with Niko Koutouvides after making an interception against the Houston Texans during the 2013 AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, on Sunday, January 13. The Patriots defeated the Texans 41-28.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Arian Foster of the Houston Texans stretches for a first down against the Patriots on Sunday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Aaron Hernandez of the New England Patriots reacts after a catch in the third quarter of the playoff game against the Texans.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots knocks the ball away from Owen Daniels of the Houston Texans after it was ruled his forward progress was stopped.

Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Aaron Hernandez of the Patriots fails to make a catch in the end zone against the Texans on Sunday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Shane Vereen of the Patriots celebrates with teammate Michael Hoomanawanui after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Texans on Sunday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Matt Schaub of the Texans drops back against the Patriots on Sunday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Wes Welker of the Patriots runs with the ball against the Texans on Sunday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Tom Brady of the Patriots hands the ball off to Stevan Ridley on Sunday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Wes Welker of the Patriots catches a pass in the second quarter against Kareem Jackson of the Texans on Sunday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Matt Schaub of the Texans walks off the field after failing to convert on third down against the Patriots on Sunday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Danieal Manning of the Texans returns the opening kickoff for 94 yards against Devin McCourty of the Patriots on Sunday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Matt Bryant of the Atlanta Falcons kicks the game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks during the NFC divisional playoff Game at Georgia Dome on Sunday, January 13, in Atlanta.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – The Falcons celebrate their 30 to 28 win over the Seahawks on Sunday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Matt Ryan of the Falcons celebrates their win over the Seahawks on Sunday.

Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Russell Wilson hands the ball off to Marshawn Lynch of the Seahawks in the second quarter against the Falcons on Sunday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Running back Frank Gore of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers during an NFC Divisional Playoff game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on Saturday, January 12.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Wide receiver Michael Crabtree of the 49ers catches a touchdown pass thrown by quarterback Colin Kaepernick against cornerback Sam Shields of the Packers in the second quarter on Saturday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Quarterback Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers hands the ball to running back Frank Gore against the Packers.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Crabtree catches a touchdown pass thrown by Kaepernick against the Packers in the second quarter.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Tight end Vernon Davis celebrates with Crabtree of after scoring a touchdown for the 49ers in the second quarter.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Wide receiver James Jones of the Packers celebrates after scoring a touchdown on a pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the second quarter against the 49ers.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Wide receiver James Jones of the Packers catches a touchdown pass thrown by Rodgers in the second quarter against the 49ers on Saturday.

Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Quarterback Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers celebrates with a teammate after running in a touchdown in the first quarter against the Packers on Saturday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the 49ers celebrates a field goal at the end of the second quarter against the Packers on Saturday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Running back DuJuan Harris of the Packers scores a touchdown against the 49ers in the second quarter on Saturday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Cornerback Sam Shields of the Packers runs the ball back for touchdown after an interception against quarterback Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers in the first quarter of Saturday's playoff game.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Justin Tucker kicks a 47-yard field goal in the second overtime to give the Baltimore Ravens a 38-35 victory over the Denver Broncos in an AFC Divisional Playoff game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Saturday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Ray Rice celebrates with some of the Ravens fans in Denver after Saturday's win.

Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Torrey Smith of the Ravens catches a pass for a 59-yard touchdown in the first quarter against Champ Bailey of the Broncos on Saturday.

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Photos: NFL Divisional Playoffs – Brandon Stokley of the Broncos hauls in a pass for a first-quarter touchdown on Saturday.

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Story highlights

The Patriots mess with Texas, toppling Houston

Atlanta Falcons trade leads with Seattle Seahawks in final minute

Baltimore Ravens defeat Denver Broncos in double overtime

San Francisco 49ers and Colin Kaepernick lay a whuppin' on Green Bay Packers

Wow! If you think NFL football is boring, you must not have been watching this weekend. The league's top teams have provided a feast of breathtaking games the past two days.

First, on Saturday, the Baltimore Ravens kept retiring linebacker Ray Lewis' career alive by stunning Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos 38-35 in double overtime. After 60 minutes of jaw-dropping kick returns and crazy-close calls, Justin Tucker sealed it with a 47-yard field goal in sudden death.

Later that day, young 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick set a rushing record and racked up 400 total yards to humble the vaunted Green Bay Packers defense in a convincing 45-31 win in San Francisco.

Then on Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks roared back from a 20-0 halftime deficit against the Falcons and went ahead 28-27 with just 31 seconds left on the clock in Atlanta.

The Falcons appeared finished, but Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzalez drove far enough after the ensuing kickoff to give Matt Bryant a shot at a 49-yard field goal with 13 seconds left. Bryant's boot was wide right, but Seattle had called a timeout just before the snap, giving the Falcons a do-over. Bryant didn't miss twice, drilling the long field goal with eight seconds remaining.

A Hail Mary pass by sensational Seahawks rookie quarterback Russell Wilson was caught in the end zone -- by sticky-handed Falcons receiver Julio Jones, who was put in on defense for just such an emergency.